Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Plano Police Chief Steven S. Eaves today announced the arrest of a Plano man on Thursday, January 29, 2009, after a search of his home revealed evidence of computers containing alleged child pornography.

Michael J. Anderson, 38, was charged with 17 felony counts on charges that include Possession of Child Pornography, Dissemination of Child Pornography and Unlawful Possession of Cannabis.

Based on a lead supplied by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chief Eaves said his department worked with Attorney General Lisa Madigan's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force to serve a search warrant that was obtained from the Kendall County State's Attorney's office on premises located in the 3300 block of Alyssa Street. The Department of Homeland Security/ICE also assisted in the investigation.

"The Plano Police Department remains vigilant about computer crime and maintains an absolute Zero tolerance of all crimes committed against children," Chief Eaves said. "I credit the cooperation of all the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation for the successful arrest and seizure."

"My office is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to track down those who prey on our children by creating and distributing pornography," said Attorney General Madigan.

Chief Eaves said the search led to the seizure of two computers and other digital evidence. A computer forensic examiner from Madigan's ICAC conducted a search of the evidence which revealed thousands of images of alleged child pornography.

The public is reminded that these are merely charges and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Through a grant from the Department of Justice, the Attorney General operates the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force which has 100 affiliated agencies throughout Illinois. Illinois ICAC is one of 59 similar organizations nationwide designed to investigate child exploitation crimes and deliver Internet safety education. In 2008, the Illinois ICAC task force provided Internet safety training and education to more than 27,000 parents and children, 3,281 law enforcement officers and prosecutors and responded to 344 cyber tips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.